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Zupancic M, Farrajota Neves da Silva P, Kas Elyas K, Friesland S, Ellingsen Cederö T, Gerling M. Transient Coma and Signs of Encephalopathy Related to 5-Fluorouracil and Carboplatin: A Case Report. Case Rep Oncol 2023; 16:525-531. [PMID: 37485017 PMCID: PMC10359680 DOI: 10.1159/000531472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy-related encephalopathy is a rare but severe side effect of cancer therapy. Few reports exist on the course of encephalopathy due to 5-fluorouracil (5FU)/carboplatin treatment. Here, we report on a patient in his 70s, who received first-line palliative treatment with carboplatin followed by continuous infusion of 5FU against a metastasized cancer of the base of the tongue. During the first 5FU infusion, the patient developed a coma with sudden onset. In contrast to earlier reports of 5FU-induced encephalopathy, serum ammonium levels were near-normal, despite a slightly increased bilirubin. The electroencephalogram showed signs of general encephalopathy, for which no other probable cause than chemotherapy could be identified. Based on historical reports, the patient's encephalopathy was likely due to 5FU treatment rather than carboplatin. While initially in a coma with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of three, the patient regained consciousness within 3 days of supportive therapy. This case highlights the potentially benign clinical course of 5FU-induced encephalopathy, characterized by fulminant clinical deterioration and quick recovery. Such a rapid deterioration in a palliative setting can pose a clinical dilemma, where invasive treatments such as intubation must be weighed against a limited prognosis, for which this case may provide guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Zupancic
- Medical Unit Head, Neck, Lung, and Skin Cancer, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Pedro Farrajota Neves da Silva
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Clinical Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karam Kas Elyas
- Medical Unit Head, Neck, Lung, and Skin Cancer, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Signe Friesland
- Medical Unit Head, Neck, Lung, and Skin Cancer, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Thomasine Ellingsen Cederö
- Medical Unit Head, Neck, Lung, and Skin Cancer, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marco Gerling
- Medical Unit Head, Neck, Lung, and Skin Cancer, Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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Perrain V, Bihan K, Bompaire F, Houillier C, Jomier F, Leclercq D, Combret S, Mahé J, Ricard D, Berzero G, Psimaras D. Leukoencephalopathy with transient splenial lesions related to 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:2396-2402. [PMID: 33817933 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and its oral prodrug capecitabine have been rarely but consistently associated with acute central nervous system toxicity, including transient leukoencephalopathies involving the splenium of the corpus callosum. METHODS We performed a retrospective search in the French Pharmacovigilance database (FPDB) (January 1985-July 2020) for adult patients affected by solid cancers who developed acute toxic leukoencephalopathies with splenial lesions following treatment with 5-FU or capecitabine. A comprehensive review of the literature helped to circumstantiate our findings. RESULTS Our research in the FPDB identified six patients who, within 3 days from their first cycle of 5-FU or capecitabine, developed acute neurological symptoms, including gait ataxia (n = 4), dysarthria (n = 3), dysmetria (n = 2), headache (n = 2), and confusion (n = 2). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed T2/FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintensities in the corpus callosum, with diffusion restriction and no contrast enhancement, generally accompanied by additional alterations in the bilateral supratentorial white matter (n = 5). All patients discontinued the agent supposedly responsible for the toxicity and experienced full recovery after a median of 8.5 days from symptom onset. Control MRI showed a progressive normalization of acute MRI abnormalities. Literature review identified 26 cases with similar clinical and paraclinical characteristics. A single patient from the literature resumed 5-FU at a lower dose, with no recurrent toxicity. CONCLUSIONS 5-FU and capecitabine might be responsible for acute leukoencephalopathies with transient splenial lesions that are generally reversible upon drug discontinuation. Resuming the agent responsible for toxicity might be feasible in selected cases, after having excluded dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, if expected benefits outweigh the risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentine Perrain
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Kevin Bihan
- Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Department of Pharmacology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.,OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France
| | - Flavie Bompaire
- OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France.,Department of Neurology, Service de Santé des Armées, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Clamart, France
| | - Caroline Houillier
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Fanny Jomier
- Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Saint Joseph, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Leclercq
- Service de Neuroradiologie, AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Combret
- Department of Pharmacology, Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Dijon, France
| | - Julien Mahé
- Department of Pharmacology, Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Nantes, France
| | - Damien Ricard
- OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France.,Department of Neurology, Service de Santé des Armées, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Clamart, France
| | - Giulia Berzero
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Dimitri Psimaras
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France.,OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France
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